Saturday, January 09, 2021

Fuel Related: Piper PA-24-250 Comanche, N6872P; accident occurred January 03, 2019 near Wilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley Airport (KWBW), Luzerne County, Pennsylvania








Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Allentown, Pennsylvania

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:


Location: Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania 
Accident Number: ERA19LA085
Date & Time: January 3, 2019, 16:00 Local 
Registration: N6872P
Aircraft: Piper PA24 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel related
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

Analysis

The pilot, who was an airframe and powerplant mechanic, and the flight instructor both reported that, after turning onto the base leg at the end of the instructional flight, the pilot extended the landing gear in preparation to land; however, the gear did not fully extend, and the engine stopped producing power. The pilots made a forced landing to a soccer field short of the runway, during which the airplane struck a ditch and sustained substantial damage to the airframe. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no obvious preimpact mechanical anomalies with the landing gear system or the engine. However, the pilot later stated that he had opened the engine cowling after the forced landing and saw the mixture cable was caught in the nose gear assembly. The pilot said he then unsnagged the cable, so it was not immediately obvious to investigators. He said that the mixture cable had gotten caught on the nosewheel assembly when it was trying to extend, which had caused the mixture control arm on the carburetor to move to the lean position.

The pilot had performed maintenance on the landing gear a few weeks before the accident. He used plastic tie-wraps to ensure the throttle/mixture/carburetor heat cables were positioned away from the nose gear, which does not have a protected well on this make/model airplane. He then flew the airplane and placed it back in his hangar until the accident flight. The pilot said there were a lot of mice in his hangar, and he thought a mouse got up in the engine and chewed off the plastic tie-wraps, which allowed the mixture cable to come loose. However, there was no evidence to support this theory.

A review of the airplane's Illustrated Parts Catalogue showed the mixture, throttle, and carburetor heat cables routed and secured away from the nose landing gear via metal clamps. Additional research of the Federal Aviation Administration Service Difficulty Reports (SDRs) revealed only one reported instance in which the mixture control cable got caught in the nose landing gear on this make/model airplane. The December 2003 report stated that, due to the mixture control cable not being properly secured or routed, it encountered the nose gear assembly during extension and fuel to the engine was shut off. The mechanic who submitted the SDR corrected the situation by properly routing and securing the mixture control cable. 

Given the available evidence, the mixture control cable in the accident airplane was not properly installed/secured. As a result, the cable caught on the nose landing gear assembly when the landing gear were extended and subsequently pulled the mixture control arm on the carburetor, thus shutting off fuel to the engine.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot/mechanic's improper installation and securing of the mixture control cable, which led to a simultaneous loss of total engine power and failure of the nose landing gear to fully extend when the cable caught on the nose landing gear assembly.

Findings

Aircraft (general) - Failure
Aircraft Fuel control/carburetor - Incorrect service/maintenance
Personnel issues Installation - Pilot
Aircraft Gear extension and retract sys - Failure

Factual Information

On January 3, 2019, at 1600 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-24-250, N6872P, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a field while on approach to the Wilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley Airport (WBW), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The commercial pilot and the flight instructor were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Bradford County Airport (N27), Towanda, Pennsylvania, about 1540.

The pilot stated that he had to extend the downwind leg of the traffic pattern due to a departing aircraft. He turned on to the base leg at an altitude of 1,000 ft above ground level (agl) and extended the landing gear, but the gear did not fully extend, and the gear-handle was "stuck." The pilot removed the access door for the emergency landing gear extension handle, but he could not get it to release. At this point, the flight instructor said, "You better put power in", but there was no response from the engine and the tachometer read "0." The airplane was unable to reach the runway and the pilot made a forced landing to a soccer field. The airplane struck a ditch, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. All three propeller blades were also damaged.

The flight instructor stated the pilot extended the landing gear on the base leg of the traffic pattern, but it extended mid-way and stopped. The pilot then said, "the engine quit." The flight instructor told the pilot to retract the gear, but the gear would not retract. The pilot tried the emergency landing gear extension handle but the handle would not move. The flight instructor also noted that the mixture control was "jammed up sideways" in the full rich position and could not be moved. Due to their low altitude (500 ft above ground level), they were unable to land at the airport and made a forced landing to a soccer field. The flight instructor said the landing was smooth until the airplane struck a drainage ditch.

A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no obvious pre mishap mechanical issues with the landing gear system or the engine; however, the pilot subsequently admitted that after the examination was completed that he knew what caused the simultaneous loss of engine power and the landing gear malfunction. He said the mixture cable got caught on the nose wheel assembly when it was trying to extend, which caused the mixture control on the carburetor to move to the lean position. The pilot said that after the forced landing, and against the advice of his flight instructor, he opened the engine cowling and saw the mixture cable caught in the nose gear structure and unsnagged the cable so it was not immediately obvious to investigators.

The pilot, who was also an airframe and powerplant mechanic, performed maintenance on the landing gear a few weeks before the accident. He retracted the gear 10-12 times and it worked "flawlessly." The pilot said he used plastic tie-wraps to make sure the throttle/mixture/carburetor heat cables were positioned away from the nose-gear, which does not have a protected well on this make/model airplane. He last flew the airplane on December 27, 2018. After he landed, he placed the airplane in his hangar and did not install covers over the landing gear to prevent mice from getting into the engine compartment. The pilot said there were a lot of mice in his hangar and he thought a mouse got up in the engine and chewed off the plastic tie wraps allowing the mixture cable to come loose. Prior to the flight he did not check inside the engine compartment for any rodent damage.

A review of the Piper PA-24-250 Illustrated Parts Catalogue, pages 2G13-2G15, show the mixture, throttle and carburetor heat cables routed and secured away from the nose landing gear via metal clamps. Additional research of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Service Difficulty Reports (SDRs), revealed only one reported instance where the mixture control cable got caught in the nose landing gear on this make/model airplane. The report was made in December 2003 and stated, "Mixture control cable secured and/or routed incorrectly when mixture control cable was replaced and/or lubed. when the cable came in contact with nose gear extension during final approach to runway. The nose gear assembly caught the mixture control cable somewhere between the firewall and carburetor pulling the mixture control cable down, shutting off the mixture at the carburetor with enough force to break the stop on the mixture control arm of the carburetor. Corrected by routing mixture control cable correctly and performing gear retraction checking operation."

At 1554, the weather conditions reported at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP), Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, located about 6 miles southeast of the accident site, was wind from 010° at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, overcast clouds 3,600 ft, temperature 2°C, dew point -3°, and an altimeter setting of 29.94 inches of mercury.

History of Flight

Prior to flight Aircraft maintenance event
Approach-VFR pattern base Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
Approach-VFR pattern base Fuel related (Defining event)
Emergency descent Fuel related
Emergency descent Off-field or emergency landing

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial 
Age: 71, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land 
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None 
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With waivers/limitations 
Last FAA Medical Exam: April 20, 2017
Occupational Pilot: No 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 497 hours (Total, all aircraft)

Flight instructor Information

Certificate: Commercial; Flight instructor; Private
Age: 61, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane 
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane single-engine; Instrument airplane
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: April 13, 2018
Occupational Pilot: Yes 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 5550 hours (Total, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N6872P
Model/Series: PA24 250 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1960 
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 24-2007
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 6
Date/Type of Last Inspection: Unknown
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2899 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed, not activated 
Engine Model/Series: O-540 SERIES
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 250 Horsepower
Operator: On file 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: AVP,961 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 6 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 15:54 Local 
Direction from Accident Site: 90°
Lowest Cloud Condition: 
Visibility 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 3600 ft AGL
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots / 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 10° 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.94 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 2°C / -3°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Towanda, PA (N27)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Wilkes-Barre, PA (WBW)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 15:40 Local 
Type of Airspace: Unknown

Airport Information

Airport: Wilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley WBW 
Runway Surface Type:
Airport Elevation: 543 ft msl 
Runway Surface Condition: Dry;Vegetation
Runway Used: 
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced landing; Full stop

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 41,-75(est)




10 comments:

  1. Gotta love the the self serving pilot narration. LOL- typical know it all. Are you kidding me!

    The FAA should strip you of your license and AP cert. Zip ties-Really?
    Another know it all , rules aren’t for me 500 hour pilot.
    You should be ashamed of yourself!
    You give professional pilots a bad name not to mention raise everyone’s insurance because of your careless actions.
    The reality is:
    1-You endangered the life of hundreds of people
    2- You destroyed one of the best aircraft ever made.
    3- You got lucky landing in a soccer field.
    4- You should stay in the N27 area and warn us next time you fly.
    5- Reckless, know it all- you will NOT be so lucky next time!

    Discusted!

    ReplyDelete
  2. "Prior to the flight he did not check inside the engine compartment for any rodent damage." Unfreakinbelievable!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yep, what an idiot, and one with an apparent ego. Great piloting skills? What about failed A&P inspection skills? Freaking moron whose penmanship is also apparently as poor as his pre-flight skills.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. I think the mice ate the harbor freight zip ties!
      What a fool!
      “Good pilot skills”
      “Knew the cause immediately”
      “Gear worked flawlessly”
      “(Landing gear)”
      “(Wheels)”
      That’s for clarifying everything because the FAA may not know anything about airplanes.
      WOW!
      I’m sure the FAA was grateful you made the evidence of the crash “obvious” to find!
      Stick to working on your lawn mower gramps!
      Your children should be locked up for letting you drive a car let alone an airplane!




      Delete
  4. I'm so glad that we have so many perfect Jake and Anonymous pilots and A&Ps here. Keep in mind that none of you are flying perfect aircraft (if you are even pilots) and be sure to make as safe an emergency landing as they did.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can say without a shadow of a doubt most of us aren't as dumb/forgetful/narcissistic/bad as this 71 year old gem. Old man screwed up. Sucks to get old AND be full of yourself.

      What I'm glad of is that we have these reports to learn from. Also, I'm glad for dolts like yourself who serve as shining examples of how NOT to be, as a pilot but more importantly as a human being.

      Nobody alleged to be flying perfect aircraft. But Grandpa maintained it wrong, THEN covered it up and lied about I bad Grandpa? Yeah should'nt be driving a car much less flying a damn plane. SMGDMFH!!!!

      Delete
  5. Dr.-(ya right) your fake and clueless!
    No listing anywhere in the world for a Dr Manarii Tane it’s just another pretender.
    Let me ask you this fake Dr.
    Would you get into an aircraft with this 71 year old knowing that lied or tried to coverup the accident reason? Knowing he has zero regard for rules and procedures on flying and maintaining an aircraft?
    His aircraft failed because of his ignorance!
    If you knew anything about where he landed, you would ses he overran the airport and landed long in a playground/soccer field. Imagine if you were there with your children?
    You must be from Towanda too!
    Stick to being a fake Doctor.
    No one here is impressed DOCTOR! Lol

    ReplyDelete
  6. WOW! Nothing more then a 71 year old "full of himself" Pilot/A&P. Obviously he's lucky in this crash. Perhaps his family will get involved now and hide the keys.
    Shame though, he destroyed as stated above he destroyed an excellent aircraft! Hang it up Pop Pop!

    ReplyDelete